The Michigan State Normal School was founded in 1849 and in the second year, musical instruction began. Albert Miller was the first director of the program where he taught harmony and composition as there were no musical instruments.

In 1858, Ezra Meade Foote took over the program and promoted the study of popular music. Foote is credited with starting the first Normal choir, a source of civic pride. Frederic Pease, for which Pease Auditorium is named, became the third director of the music program and expanded it to include instruction in piano-forte, organ, melodeon and harmony, and an advanced course for teachers in “graded and district schools” as well as lessons on the violin. In 1881, during Pease's tenure, the State Board of Education authorized creation of a Conservatory of Music which allowed for advanced instruction, and application of skills in the Normal School's training school. Pease developed the first four-year music program at the School, implemented a series of events for the community such as weekly public recitals, an annual community concert by the Normal Choir, private lessons for local citizens, and the inclusion of local talent in the chorus and orchestra. Pease ran the program from 1863 until his death in 1909.

Frederick Alexander, for which the Alexander Music Building is named, took over the program in 1909. Alexander continued the tradition of community singing with the Normal Choir. In response to the growing interest in band and orchestral music in the public schools, Alexander expanded the program to include instrumental music education in the curriculum. He also oversaw the building and opening of the Frederic H. Pease Auditorium in 1915, a venue that drew not only campus events and performers but also groups and individuals of national and international prominence. The Detroit Symphony, Duke Ellington, John Philip Sousa, Pearl Bailey, Joffrey Ballet, Victor Borge, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Philadelphia Orchestra, Julian Bond, Shirley Chisholm, and Winton Marsalis all performed in the Pease Auditorium. Frederick Alexander retired in 1941 and when he died in 1955 he left a bequest of $90,000 to Eastern Michigan College which was used to purchase and install an organ in Pease Auditorum.

Haydn Morgan, replaced Alexander in 1941. A noted educator, choral conductor, author and composer, Morgan brought with him a commitment to the goals of music education, with a renewed emphasis on the proper training of young voices. In 1955, the Conservatory name changed, becoming the Department of Music at Eastern Michigan College. Morgan established the EMU Choir, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Glee Club, Freshmen Girl’s Vocal Ensemble, the Madrigal Singers and the EMU-Civic Symphony Orchestra. Morgan remained department head for 22 years.

Howard Rarig was the director of the Department from 1965-1971. During Rarig’s six years of service he credited with laying the groundwork for hiring applied music specialists on each instrument and became one of the first administrators to recognize the importance of development activities in support of department scholarships. James B. Hause, a recruit from Western Michigan University and oversaw the construction of the Alexander Music Building, completed in 1981, bringing together all of the Music Department faculty who had previously been housed in three different buildings on campus. In addition, during his 23 year tenure he saw the renovation of Pease Auditorium in the early 1990s. Hause retired in 1994.

Gordon McQuere, program director from 1996-2001, helped organize the 1996 alumni festival "Encore" to reopen the restored Pease Auditorium. In 2001, David Woike’s took over as director of the Department of Music which would become, during his tenure, the Department of Music and Dance. Woike retired in 2011. Diane L. Winder has been responsible for leading the Department as interim Department Head and subsequently as Department Head since 2012.